Life in the textile town of Sircilla on Tuesday came to a standstill following the indefinite strike launched by powerloom weavers demanding increase in wages. All the 36,000 and odd powerlooms remained closed and 20,000 weavers participated in the strike.

The powerloom weavers were demanding increase of wages from the existing 7 paise per 10 pics to 30 paise per 10 pics of cloth, eight hours in a shift and 8.33 per cent bonus.

The busy streets wore a deserted look as the strike had its impact on allied sectors of dyeing and warping units.

Powerloom workers union affiliated to AITUC president Samala Mallesham said that they held four rounds of talks with the owners of the powerlooms, but in vain. “The Revenue and Labour Department authorities had also intervened, but the owners did not respond. We are forced to go on strike at the cost of our wages,” he added.

He said powerloom weavers staged a dharna in front of the RDO office at Sircilla on Tuesday. The weavers waited for the arrival of Minister for IT and Panchayat Raj K. Taraka Rama Rao at the protest camp, but the as Minister was busy he did not come.